NEWS

A Winchendon man was arrested on Wednesday, March 5, following a search warrant executed at his home in connection with the discovery of child sexual abuse material. Douglas Duarte, 49, faces serious charges, including possession and dissemination of child sexual abuse material, along with two counts of improper storage of a firearm.

During the search, law enforcement agencies uncovered a range of electronics and hard drives containing large volumes of child sexual abuse material. The investigation was conducted by a collaborative effort between the Secret Service New England Cyber Fraud Task Force, the Massachusetts State Police STOP team, and the North Worcester County Drug Task Force. CRC Technology played a significant role in the successful identification of Duarte and the evidence against him.

Winchendon Police Chief Daniel Wolski emphasized that while local law enforcement typically does not handle such complex cybercrime cases, the department’s collaboration with state and federal agencies proved vital. This marked the first time the Winchendon Police Department had partnered with these agencies on a child sexual abuse material investigation.

Duarte was arraigned in Winchendon District Court on the same day of his arrest and was held on $500 cash bail. A judge also issued orders barring him from having contact with minors under the age of 16 and prohibiting him from possessing any firearms. Duarte’s next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, April 1.

Together, we can make an impact against the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. Get involved with CRC today!